Saturday, October 29, 2005

"UNESCO said it was likely to remove Cologne Cathedral in Germany from its list of World Heritage in Danger because a construction project which would have obscured views of the Gothic building looks set to be scaled down or shelved.

"'The biggest obstacle to returning the cathedral to the (normal) World Heritage List has been removed,' said Dieter Offenhaeusser, spokesman for the German commission of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation.

"Property developers had submitted plans for three office blocks which would have radically altered the skyline of the western city, which is currently dominated by the twin spires of the cathedral.

"The city's planning authorities look set to scrap plans for two of the towers but say one could still be built, but only if a tenant can be found."